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Liposuction

At his practice in Toronto, Dr. Derek Ford performs liposuction to sculpt away fat in areas that are resistant to change despite diet and exercise. His dedication to optimal body contouring results led him to pursue training in an advanced approach called SAFELipo® that removes unwanted fat while minimizing contour irregularities, bruising, swelling, and bleeding.

If you'd like to reveal your body's beautiful contours, request a consultation online with Dr. Ford, or call our Toronto office at (416) 925-7337 or our Oshawa office at (905) 743-9888.

Introduction and Indications

Liposuction is perhaps the most reliable option for reducing specific areas of excess fat that don't respond to diet and exercise. A thin tube (cannula) is inserted through tiny incisions, and the unwanted fat is gently sculpted away. Dr. Ford uses a patented technique called SAFELipo that produces smoother results with reduced discomfort, bruising and bleeding.

The quantity of fat cells in the human body stays static throughout adulthood. Weight gain and loss comes not from the gain and loss of fat cells, but rather a change in the mass of the existing fat cells. Liposuction is one of the only methods available to physically remove fat cells, making it especially appealing to people who wish to see long-lasting results.

However, Dr. Ford emphasizes that liposuction is not intended to be a weight-loss procedure. It's not appropriate for removing large volumes of fat, and candidates should be at healthy, stable weights to get the most from this surgery.

Assessment

The liposuction consultation is an ideal opportunity to discuss your goals with Dr. Ford. He performs a physical examination to evaluate your skin elasticity and other factors that could affect the outcome of your procedure. He also helps you understand how much fat can be reasonably extracted during liposuction and the type of results you can expect. The most common areas treated with liposuction include:

• Neck
• Knees
• Thighs
• Waist
• Abdomen
• Back
• Arms

Occasionally, fat extracted via liposuction can be used to augment another area of the body, such as the buttocks. This technique is called autologous fat grafting (or "fat transfer") and presents patients with an exciting option for adding volume to other areas of the body, such as the face, breasts, or buttocks. During your consultation, Dr. Ford can evaluate your candidacy for fat grafting to help you decide whether the option is right for you.

Procedure

The SAFELipo procedure is a bit different than traditional liposuction. Performed while you are under general anesthesia, a SAFELipo procedure follows specific steps to achieve an attractive result.

• Separation: After making tiny, discreet incisions, Dr. Ford uses a specialized device called an "exploded-tip" cannula to separate and loosen unwanted fat to make it easier to remove. Unlike other forms of liposuction, SAFELipo doesn't generate heat during the separation process, decreasing the risk of thermal injury and development of excessive scar tissue.
• Aspiration: Thanks to the initial separation step, which emulsifies the fat, the aspiration, or suction, step of SAFELipo can be performed using a very thin cannula. Aspiration is less traumatic than traditional versions of liposuction and generally creates less bleeding.
• Fat Equalization: After the unwanted fat has been removed, Dr. Ford employs a special technique to reshape and equalize the remaining fat for smooth, even coverage with a lesser chance for indentations or lumps in the treated areas.

After liposuction, Dr. Ford closes the small incisions.

Recuperating After Surgery

Liposuction is very often performed as an outpatient procedure, which means you will be able to return home the same day with assistance from a loved one.

Depending on the treatment area, you may need to wear a special compression garment for some time to reduce swelling and support the area as it heals. Most patients can return to work within 1 to 2 weeks, and discomfort is manageable with prescribed medication.

Because liposuction requires rather small incisions, the resulting scars are quite discreet. Dr. Ford provides you with instructions to help you care for your incisions after surgery to ensure they heal well.

Liposuction Considerations

Liposuction is a time-tested aesthetic procedure that is known for creating reliable, attractive results. Although SAFELipo is generally safer than traditional forms of liposuction, no surgical procedure is completely free of risk. During your consultation, Dr. Ford will discuss your individual risk profile with you so you have a better idea of what to expect.

Common Complements

Liposuction is popular as a standalone procedure, but it's also often combined with breast reduction, tummy tuck, arm lift, and thigh lift for more substantial results.